“Wind-suck”
Kate James
16 June → 1 July 2006

Wind-suck is the term used to describe the action of a horse that anchors its incisor teeth onto fixed objects and repeatedly bites down, gulping in air and making a characteristic grunting noise. An intrusive, relentless and incapacitating behaviour, wind-sucking often signifies the presence of anxiety.

Comprising of hand-crafted objects and a video piece, Wind-suck examines the often overlooked occurrence of anxiety amongst domesticated animals. Stemming from my personal understanding of anxiety and my empathy for the anxious animal, Wind-suck aims to highlight the shared experience of anxiety amongst humans and animals alike.

Kate James is currently undertaking a Master of Art program (by research) at RMIT University. Wind-suck forms part of her ongoing enquiry into the nature of anxiety as expressed by humans and domesticated animals. Previous exhibitions in 2005 include The Influence of Anxiety at Blindside Gallery and Hatched 05 at PICA.